Abstract
Radiation therapy in head and neck malignancy often triggers mucositis poorly controlled by nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). To better understand how such pain develops, we studied numerical rating scale (NRS 0-5) pain scores from 30 subjects undergoing 60-72 Gy radiation for newly diagnosed oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer between March 2004 and May 2009, and divided by treatment into 18 from March 2004 to July 2007, and 12 from August 2007 to May 2009. Opioids were given to those in the first group with severe pain and to those in the second group with milder pain treated earlier.
Tube feeding was required in seven cases (38.9%) in the first group and in one (8.3%) in the second group.
Earlier opioid administration effectively reduced radition-induced mucositis pain.
